Flexible chain



C.y IVI. LEVY.

FLEXIBLE CHAIN.

APPLICATlQN FILED MAY2 1,1921.

ytemed'ug. 22, 1222.

CHARLES 2M. LEVY, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSGNOR TO CHARLES l/I. LEVY 85 SON, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A COPRTNERSHTP COMPCSED Ol? CHARLES M. LEVY, AND NOR- :BEAN C. LEVY.

FLEXBLF.- CHATN.

naaassa.

Specification of Letters .'atent.

rat-eaten nag. as, ieee.

T 0 all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. Lnvr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county ot New York, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Flexible Chains, 01"" which the Jfollowing is va specication.

This invention relates to improvements in tlexible chains especially adapted for use in jewelry, for instance for bracelets and the like.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a flexible chain in which the links are made up ot two series of archshape members, one of which forms the outer surface of the chain and the other :torms the inner surface thereof, said arches being arranged with their arms extending in opposite directions and flexibly connected together.

There are other important objects and advantages of the invention which will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the drawing Fig. l is a face view of the outer side of the chain, partly in section;

Fig. 2 a face view of the inner side of the chain;

Fig. 3 a side elevation showing the chain flexed in full lines and straight in dotted lines;

Fig. 4C a transverse sectional view taken on the line lr-Jl of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 a detail perspective view oit one of the outer links;

Fig. 6 a detail perspective view of one of the inner links;

Fig. 7 a detail view of the blank from which the outer links are made;

Fig. 8 a detail view of the blanktrom which the inner links are made;

Fig. 9 a perspective view of the blank forming the inner links, partly shaped; and

Fig. l0 a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the blank ready for assembling in the chain.

The chain is made up of two sets ot archshape links l and 2, the arches l forming the outer tace of the chain and the arches 2 forming the inner tace thereof. Each of the links l comprises the outer or tace member 3 and the two side members 4. The side members are preferably bent at right angles to the outer lace member and are each perforated at 5. These links l of the chain are arranged side by side and close together so that the joints between them run transversely ot the chain, the side members forming` portions oi the sides of the chain. The side members are slightly tapered trom the face member 3 so that the free ends thereoi are slightly narrower than the ends join to said face member. The inner links 2 are formed with the inner body member 6 and the side members 7 which extend in the same direction from the ends of the body member 6 and which are bent at right angles to said body member. The side members 7 receive between them the side members 4 of the outer links. The body members 6 are arranged side by side so that the joints between them run transversely of the chain; and they are arranged a slightly greater distance apart than the outer links or' the chain, so that the chain will flex toward the inner links and away from the outer links, the spaces between the body members of the inner links permitting the flexing of the body of the chain. The outer or tace members of the links l are arranged close together, practically in contact so that when the chain is iiexed the spaces between the face members of the links will be very slight.- The tapered side members 4; of the outer links permit the chain as a whole to be flexed toward the inner links. Because of this taper there will be a slight space between the tree ends of the adjacent side members l, which space will be taken up and closed when the chain is flexed. This is clearly illustrated in the sectional part of Fig. 3. By this means the face members of the outer links may be placed directly in contact with each other and will remain in contact with each other even when the chain is flexed toward the inner links 2.

Each of the side members of the inner links 2 is formed with two inwardly eX- tending lugs S. The inner links are arranged to break joints with the outer links, so that the joints between the inner links will be directly opposite the solid outer tace members 3 of the outer links l. The side members 7 bridge the joints between the side members l ot the outer links. The lugs 8 ot' each side member pass through the perforations 5 ot the two adjacent side members 4t, so that each of the inner links 2 is connected to two of the outer links l and each of the outer links 1 is connected to two adjacent inner links 2. The inner ends of the lugs 8 are bent laterally and clinched on .the inner sides of the side members et of the outer links to permanently connect all of the links together. The side members l of the outer links fit within the side members 7 4of' the inner links, the two sets oil side members forming the complete side of the chain.

Each link of the outer series is made from a blank 9, shown in Fig. 7. This blank -is perforated near its ends, as shown in said Fig. 7 and is then bent into arch shape, as shown in Fig. 5, the two perforated tapered end pieces then forming the side members of the link. Each link of the inner series is formed from a blank l0', shown in F ig. 8. This blank is first bent toform the connecting lugs 8, as shown in Fig.k 9. The blank is then bent, as shown in Fig. lO, to partly form the side members 7. ln this form the inner links are assembled with the outer links, and the side members 7 are then finally bent to permanent form, and the lugs y8 are caused to enter the perforations 5 of the side members of the outer links. The inner ends of the lugs 8 are then bent laterally to clinch the outer links tov the inner links and to complete the chain.

It is manifest that the flexible chain is made up of two sets'of links which overlap and are `flexibly connected together, so that the complete chain is a rectangular' tube made up of` articulated or connected archlike links whose side members embrace each other and are flexibly connectedtogether. It is also` manifest that 'the joints between the outer links are lapped by the body parts of the inner links so that whether the chain is straight or flexed there is no appearance o openings through the chain, either through the sides or through the top and bOttOI'n.

A chain made up as described is Very pleasing in appearance; is simple to maimfacture for the reason that only two stampings are used and these are connected together without the use of solder and without the use of any fastening means except the links` themselves.- Such a chain is especiall-yadapted for use in jewelry, and may be made up into bracelets of very pleasing appearance, and at the same time very durable and cannot be broken except by unusually rough treatment.

What I claim is:

l. A flexible chaincomprising a series of arch-shape outer links, a series of arch-shape inner links, the side members of said links extending in opposite directions and overlapping to form the sides of the chain, and each of the outer links being connected to two adjacent `inner links.

v 2. A flexible chain comprising a series of arch-shape outer links, a series of arch-shape inner links, the side members of said links extending in opposite directions and overlapping to form the sides of the chain, each of the outer links being connected to two adjacent inner links, `and the inner links being spaced farther` apart than the outer links to'permit the chain to flex toward its inner side. l

3. A flexible chain comprising a series of arch-shape outer links, a series of archshape inner links, the side members ofthe outer links extending toward the inner links, the side members of the'inner links extending in the opposite directifni` andtoward the outer links, the side members 'of' 80 one series of links fitting 'within the side members of the other series of links to form the sides of the chain, the links of" one series breaking joints with the links 'of the other series, and integral connecting lugs formed on the side members of one series of links and connected to the side members of thev other seriesof links. c

et. A substantially rectangular tubular flexible chain comprising two series yof sheet metal links, one forming the outer'fa'ce of the chain and the otherthe inner face thereof, vand connecting lugs formed on the ends of the links of one series and adapted to enter perforations at the ends of the links of 9'5 the other series to form the complete tubular chain, each llink of one series being connected to two adjacent links of the other series.

5. A substantially rectangular tubular flexible chain comprising a vseries of arch- 100 shape outer links each formed with an outer or face member and two side members bent at vright angles to the face member,- a series of arch-shape'inner links each formedwith j an inner body member and two side members 105 which extend in the same direction from' the ends of the body member and at right angles to said body member, the side members of the outer links fitting against the inner sides of Vthe side members of the inner links, ay pair 1'10 of connecting lugs formed oneach side member of the inner links and adapted to enter perforations in the side members of two adjacent outer links, the innerv body member of the inner lin is being arranged a slightly 115 greater distance apart than the outer face members of the outer links vwhereby the chain may be flexed toward the inner links.

6. A substantially rectangular tubular flexible chain comprising a series of arch- 120 shape outer links each formed with an outer or face member and two side members bent Aat right angles to the face member and tapered toward their free ends, a series of arch-shape inner links eachl formed with an inner body member and two side members which extend in the same direction from the ends of the body member and at right angles to said body member, the side members of the outer links fitting against theinner sides of the side members of the inner links, a pair oi' connecting lugs ormed on each side member of the inner links and adapted to enter perforations in the side members of two adjacent outer links, the inner body member of the inner links being arranged a slightly greater distance apart than the outer face members of the outer links whereby the chain may be flexed toward the inner links.

7. A flexible Chain comprising a series of arch-shape outer links each formed with an outer or face member and two side members bent at right angles to the face member and arranged side by side in Channel formation and having their side members apertured,

jacent outer links by two of said connecting 25 links.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

CHARLES M. LEVY. 

